Christmas tree decoration



July 7,1936. VEENBQER 2,047,045

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION Filed Jan. 26, 1955 INVENT ATTORNEY.

Patented July 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The usual electric light Christmas tree decoration consists of a flexible wire having the electric lamps, in series, arranged along the same at intervals. In the use of a decoration of this kind there is a certain inconvenience in distributing the lamps with respect to the tree, and when the decoration is complete it is likely to become disarranged and the wire is also unduly conspicuous because much of the wire is exposed or extended across the outer reaches of the limbs of the tree.

According to this invention there is a holder to embrace the tree trunk and the wire is arranged in loops each containing a lamp or lamps and which loops extend from the holder, preferably at different radial points thereof, the whole forming a branched system, wherefore, when the holder is in place each lamp can be conveniently positioned according to the decorators taste without other encumbrance than is offered by the branch containing such lamp; there is little possibility of the complete decoration being disarranged; and the wire is less conspicuous than in the case of the ordinary decoration first described.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan of the decoration;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same with certain top plates removed;

Fig. 3 shows in horizontal section the portion of the holder which includes a certain coupler, with the latter detached from the holder proper;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a tree equipped with the improved decoration.

The holder proper here consists of two halfrings I formed of wood or any other suitable material, each of which is shown formed with an inside upwardly open rabbet 2 and with radial notches 3. A cover is preferably provided in the form of two semi-circular plates 4 which are secured on the respective half-rings I of the holder proper by screws 5. The parts thus formed, each comprising the elements I and 4, are secured together by the coupling 6 so that the holder formed is annular and may thus embrace the tree-trunk, as will hereinafter appear. Preferably the two parts or sections of the holder are pivotally connected at adjoining ends thereof by a pin I which penetrates extensions Ia of the half-rings and is parallel with the axis of the holder. Near the other two adjoining end portions of the sections the latter are provided respectively with holes 8, which are formed radially; there may be other holes 9 entering to holes 8 parallel with the axis of the holder. In each hole 8 is held the elastic terminal portion, forming a contact, of a metal clip l0 secured to the section by a screw H.

The mentioned coupler 6 is an ordinary plug terminal commonly used in electrical equipment comprising an insulating body H to which are afiixed by screws l3 the metal contacts or terminals l4 giving the coupler the form of a fork and to which by screws E5 the insulated leads l6 from or forming parts of the service lines are electrically connected. When contacts I4 are entered into the holes 8 (or 9) the coupler obviously holds the two sections in a state in which they will embrace a tree-trunk.

An insulated current-conveying wire or line is provided which has its ends attached to the contacts l0 respectively and between its ends has alternating portions ll thereof lying in the rabbet 2 and the remaining portions l8 formed as loops which reach through the passages formed here by the notches 3. The portions ill have the incandescent electric lamps l9 incorporated therein in the usual manner-so that the filaments or resistances l9a of such lamps form conductive parts of the loops. The lamps are here shown only one to a loop, but it will be obvious that there may be a plurality and arranged either in series or in parallel or multiple arc.

Fig. 5 shows how the decoration is applied to a tree 20. The coupler is detached, as in Fig. 3, the two sections of the holder moved apart and made to embrace the tree-trunk 20a and then the sections are brought together and coupled by the coupler as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the act of coupling also putting the lamps in circuit. It will be understood that the holder will be supported by any convenient limb on the tree and may remain so supported even when the coupler is withdrawn.

My invention overcomes the mentioned faults of the ordinary decorations first referred to in that it is less likely to become disarranged and the line or wire is less conspicuous because its lamp carrying portions (loops) may radiate from the tree trunk and there is greater facility in arranging the decoration once the holder is in place, which may be by positioning it at an elevation at about mid-height of the tree and then distributing the loops in various radial directions as shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is:

1. A decoration for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a holder formed to embrace the treetrunk and including two sections, a current-conveying line bridging two adjoining ends of, and having terminals respectively arranged on, said sections and said line being formed with loops extending from and held by the holder and each having a part thereof forming an electric-lamp resistance, and means to hold said sections in embracing relation to the tree-trunk including a unitary device disconnectively coupling together two adjoining ends of the sections and having contacts forming electrically conductive connections with said terminals.

2. A decoration for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a holder formed to embrace the treetrunk and including two sections, a current-conveying line bridging two adjoining ends of, and having terminals respectively arranged on, said sections and said line being formed with loops extending from and held by the holder and each having a part thereof forming an electric-lamp resistance, and means to hold said sections in embracing relation to the tree-trunk including a unitary device disconnectively coupling together the other two adjoining ends 01' the sections and having contacts forming electrically conductive connections with said terminals. v

3. A decoration for a Christmas tree or the like comprising a holder in the form of a split-ring, 5

a current-conveying line also in the form of a split-ring and extending substantially concentrically with the holder and formed with loops extending from and held by the holder and each having a part thereof forming an electric-lamp 10 resistance, said holder and line being capable of flexion in the plane of the holder and having their splits substantially coincident with each other, and a unitary device, bridging the split and removably attached to the holder both sides of 15 such split, preventing fiexion ot the holder to widen the split and having contacts to form electrical conductive connections with said terminals.

NICHOLAS VEENBOER. 

